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At-home HIV self-testing during COVID: implementing the GetaKit project in Ottawa
Patrick O'Byrne1,2, Alexandra Musten3, Lauren Orser4,5
1School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8M5, Canada. pjobyrne@uottawa.ca.
Summary
HIV self-testing kits were distributed in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic-friendly strategy ensured access to sexual health services, with no positive HIV tests reported.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sexual Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to essential healthcare services, including HIV testing.
- Canada lacked a licensed HIV self-test, creating a barrier to accessible testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and outcomes of distributing HIV self-testing kits in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To evaluate HIV self-testing as a pandemic-friendly strategy for sexual health services.
Main Methods:
- Obtained Special Access approval from Health Canada to distribute bioLytical's INSTI HIV self-test.
- Established an online registration portal (www.GetaKit.ca) for eligible participants in Ottawa.
- Collected baseline survey data and analyzed self-test results from participants.
Main Results:
- 637 individuals screened, with 43.3% eligible; 203 completed baseline surveys, and 182 ordered a test.
- The 203 participants were predominantly young (average age 31), white, cis-male, and identified as gay, with 71% belonging to priority HIV testing groups.
- Of 129 analyzed self-tests, none were positive, 104 were negative, and 22 were invalid.
Conclusions:
- HIV self-testing is a viable and pandemic-friendly strategy to maintain access to HIV testing services.
- The study supports the scale-up of HIV self-testing programs in Canada to improve sexual health outcomes.
